Sassan Hafizi
  • United Kingdom

Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

1. The role of Gas6 as a mediator of repair in demyelinating disease of the CNS
2. Targeting TAM receptor signalling pathways in cancer
3. TAM receptors as modulators of neuroinflammation

Personal profile

Biography

I have a BSc in Biochemistry from Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London. I then obtained a PhD in cellular pharmacology from the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, under the supervision of Prof Sir Magdi Yacoub. Following this, I became an EU Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at Lund University, Sweden, working with Prof. Björn Dahlbäck on the molecular mechanisms of Gas6/TAM signalling in cells. I continued my research under a further postdoctoral fellowship and then as an independent investigator (Docent) at Lund University. In 2009, I joined the University of Portsmouth as Senior Lecturer, and in September 2017 I was promoted to Reader in Cell and Molecular Biology. 

Research Interests

1) Gas6-TAM ligand-receptor signalling and its role in normal and pathophysiological cell biology, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The latter research has been funded in part by the Multiple Sclerosis Society. 
2) Intracellular signalling via the Tensin family proteins in normal and cancer cell biology. 


For further information about my research please visit my lab page
Further information is also avilable on LinkedIn, ResearchGate and ORCID
Current and past research project supervision: PhD, Prof Doc in biomedical science, PhD by Publication, MRes, MSc, undergraduate research placements (incl Wellcome), international research placements (e.g. ERASMUS, Brazilian 'Science without Borders').

I welcome enquiries and applications from students wishing to be supervised on PhD or MRes projects within the areas of research descibed above. 

Teaching Responsibilities

I teach on multiple modules across all courses within the School: BSc Pharmacology, BSc Biomedical Science, MPharmacy, MSc Medical Biotechnology. 
I am module co-ordinator for the following: (i) Final year Project (BSc Pharmacology, BSc Biomedical Science) (40 credits), (ii) Research-Based Work Experience (BSc Pharmacology, BSc Biomedical Science)(40 credits), (iii) Molecular Medicine (MSc Medical Biotechnology)(30 credits); (iv) Pharmacology Work Placement Year (120 credits). 

Summary

I am Associate Professor in Cell and Molecular Biology at the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences. In addition to my other academic roles (see other sections), I have reviewed submissions for dozens of scientific journals and research grant applications. I am presently Executive Editor for the journal Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports, Reviews Editor for Frontiers in Drug Discovery, and Associate/Special Issues Editor for Cells (Basel). I am also a member of the Grants Committee of the Biochemical Society. I also regularly communicate my research, as well as our School's courses, at external outreach events (schools, charities, funder's events). 

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

  • Q Science (General)
  • Cell biology
  • Molecular biology
  • RS Pharmacy and materia medica
  • Pharmacology
  • Small molecule inhibitors
  • RB Pathology
  • Cancer
  • multiple sclerosis
  • Inflammation

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